A weekend homecoming: From Afghanistan to Louisiana, with 22 Purple Hearts

One year after they deployed to conduct the high-risk job of ensuring routes were clear of roadside bombs, the soldiers of the 926th Engineer Company returned home Saturday. In all, 22 Purple Heart medals were given to the Louisiana Army National Guard unit - meaning about one-fourth of the soldiers were wounded.

Staff Sgt. Denis Ricou/National GuardSgt. Chad Mccaa kisses his wife, Brittany, after stepping off the airplane in Baton Rouge Saturday. Mccaa was one of about 100 Louisiana Army National Guard troops to return home from Afghanistan.

The Baker-based soldiers were greeted in Baton Rouge by family, friends, senior Guard leaders and Gov. Bobby Jindal. "We will be forever grateful for the service to our nation," he said. "We must also keep in our thoughts the soldiers who are still fighting overseas in defense of our freedom and pray for their safe return."

The 926th soldiers were the lead element for route clearance in Khowst and Paktya provinces, according to a National Guard press release. They cleared 29,500 miles of road and found 72 improvised explosive devices, according to the news release.

Staff Sgt. Denis Ricou/National GuardMembers of the Louisiana Army National Guard's 926th Engineer Company were greeted in Baton Rouge Saturday, upon returning home from Afghanistan.

The soldiers also conducted 624 route-clearing missions, according to the press release.

"We are proud of their accomplishments and know that all Louisianans should be proud of their service," adjutant Brig. Gen. Glenn Curtis said in the release.

The company is a unit in the 769th Engineer Battalion, which is headquartered in Baton Rouge. This was the company's second deployment to Afghanistan.

The National Guard has previously volunteered that two 926th soldiers were wounded and receievd Purple Heart medals. It wasn't until this weekend that the National Guard revealed that 22 soldiers received wounds.